Maine confirmation hearing sparks fight over definition of "veteran"Maine state Rep. Paul Gilbert, a Democrat, this week questioned whether a former National Guardsman who served in the early 1970s should be considered a veteran, spurring an angry response from Gov. Paul LePage, veterans groups and some Republican lawmakers. Gilbert's comments came at the former guardsman's confirmation hearing for a state board. Bangor Daily News (Maine)(free registration)
(9/5)

In the Pentagon

Report criticizing military voting offices is flawed, Pentagon saysThe Pentagon has rebutted a report by the Defense Department's inspector general that criticized the military's efforts to ensure access to election ballots for troops. Investigators said they were unable to reach half of the military's 224 Installation Voter Assistance Offices, but the Pentagon said the offices are operational and that investigators used the wrong contact information. "The contact information that they used ... very simply, was outdated," said Federal Voting Assistance Program director Pam Mitchell. Air Force Times(free registration)
(9/5)

Afghan insider attacks are likely to continue, officials sayU.S. officials say efforts to conduct background checks on Afghan soldiers to prevent insider attacks may not be successful right away and that the problem will likely continue for the remainder of the war. "To say that we've found one true, discernible pattern at this time would not be accurate," said Army Lt. Gen. James Terry, deputy commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. Politico (Washington, D.C.)
(9/5)

On the Hill

OMB sequestration report will be irrelevant, Pentagon official saysAn upcoming report from the Office of Management and Budget detailing how the Obama administration would implement sequestration won't offer much new information or help spur a compromise in Congress, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition Frank Kendall said Wednesday. "If you want to know what will happen to your program, look at how much money you expect to have in your budget next year and cut 11%," Kendall said. "You don't have much choice. There is no flexibility in the law." Politico (Washington, D.C.)
(9/5)

Service Section News

New National Guard chief to assume post FridayArmy Lt. Gen. Frank Grass will be made head of the National Guard Bureau and receive a fourth star on Friday in a ceremony that will be led by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Grass was formerly the deputy commander of U.S. Northern Command. He succeeds Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley. Air Force Times(free registration)
(9/5)

Army builds partnerships to boost reservist employmentThe Employer Partnership Office of the Armed Forces is helping pair Army reservists with jobs that make use of their military training and allow them to meet service obligations. The partnership offices reach out to reservists as early as possible after they finish deployments. "My company works hand in hand with my unit. Whenever I have drills, I get the days off from work to be able to come and do my reserve time. There's no complaints on either part," says Spc. Timothy Thomas, who participated in the program. Time.com/Battleland blog
(9/6)

School year starts without new tuition assistance guidelinesThe Department of Defense hasn't released a new memorandum of understanding for schools that offer courses covered by military tuition assistance, meaning the new restrictions won't apply to fall courses at most universities. Once the new MOU is released, schools will have 60 days to agree to it; if they don't agree, military students become ineligible for tuition assistance at those schools. Army Times Prime(subscription required)
(9/5)

SmartQuote

One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done."